MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court rejected a bid to issue a restraining order against the appointment of former Senator Panfilo Lacson as the head of the committee spearheading the rehabilitation after Supertyphoon Yolanda.
Supreme Court spokesperson Theodore Te said on Tuesday that the high court denied the petition filed by Louis Biraogo seeking to reverse Lacson's appointment under President Benigno Aquino III's Memorandum Order No. 62.
Biraogo argued that the Aquino's creation of the new office headed by Lacson violated Republic Act No. 10121 establishing the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council tasked to executive rehabilitation programs after calamities.
"There is no need for the new office created by the President which respondent Lacson currently occupies," Biraogo said in the plea.
The magistrates, however, directed Lacson to comment on the petition within 10 days upon the receipt of the order.